Bridgewater, NJ- The Somerset Patriots have signed Major League right-handed pitcher Scott Copeland for the 2018 season.

“I am excited to get started on this new opportunity,” said Copeland. “I can’t wait to come in and help this team compete for a championship. Somerset came really highly recommended, so I am excited to get to work.”

Copeland begins his first season with the Somerset Patriots and first in the Atlantic League. The 6’3” righty broke into the big leagues in 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays. That year, Copeland went 1-1 over five games (three starts) with six strikeouts. He had gone 11-6 with a 2.95 ERA over 21 games (20 starts) for Triple-A Buffalo earlier that season to earn his promotion to the majors.

The Longview, Texas native began the 2016 season in Korea before he posted a 3.04 ERA over nine starts with Buffalo to end the season. He returned to the Triple-A level last year in New Orleans (Miami Marlins) where he was ranked among the Pacific Coast League leaders in multiple categories. Copeland led the league in starts (26), was tied for third in wins (9), fourth in strikeouts (118), and fifth in innings pitched (137.2).

“We are happy to be joined by Scott in our 2018 championship quest,” said Somerset Patriots manager Brett Jodie. “Scott will fit in very nicely here. He understands what we are about and wants to be a part of it. He will fulfill a vital need in our starting rotation, has a great idea of how to pitch and how to adapt to different league. Copeland will be a veteran presence on our staff that you can count on every five days to give the team a chance to win. He possesses the right attitude and work ethic and we are excited to team up with him.”

Copeland began his professional career in the Baltimore Orioles organization before joining the Blue Jays in 2013. He has pitched at the Triple-A level in each of the last four seasons with a 3.70 ERA. The University of Southern Mississippi alum owns 61 wins and a 4.15 ERA over his eight-year professional career.

The Somerset Patriots led the Atlantic League in attendance and made their 14th appearance in the playoffs last season. The Somerset Patriots will welcome their 7,000,000th fan in their 20th season at TD Bank Ballpark in 2018. Tickets are now on sale for the 2018 Season presented by Ford beginning at home on Friday, April 27th. For more information, please visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

About The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB)

The Atlantic League has been a leader in professional baseball and a gateway to Major League Baseball since 1998. Over 38 million fans have attended Atlantic League games and more than 900 players and 50 managers and coaches have joined MLB organizations directly from the ALPB. The Atlantic League emphasizes winning baseball games, showcasing the talent of top-caliber players and offering affordable family entertainment.